Improvement in portable fog-alarms



B. man. PORTABLE FOG' ALARM.

Patented Nov. 28.1876.

esses:

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BLAKE TARR, OF FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FOG-ALARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 8 4.737., datedNovember 28, 1876; application filed September 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BLAKE TARR, of Fail-haven, in the county ofBristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Portable Fog-Horns worked by compressed air, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of my improved fog-horn and Fig. 2 is a verticalcentral section through the supply-pump and part of its connections withthe reservoir.

The nature of my invention consists in certain constructions,combinations, and arrangements of parts hereafter fully described andspecifically claimed, whereby a fog horn or whistle of very simple andcompact construction is produced, which may be put in operation at amoments notice, and may be operated in places too small for machines ofthat class of construction as heretofore used.

In the drawings, A represents a reservoir of well-known form andconstruction; B, the removable bottom plate of the same; and C, awhistle or horn of suitable construction attached to the said reservoir.

to the lower'part of the reservoir A. The said air-pump consists of acylinder, E, with removable top F, bottom G, and elastic-jointpackingsfand g. Within the cylinder E is a piston, H, with cup-shapedleather packing h, constructed as usual for such purposes, a piston-rod,h, having a stuffing-box, f, in the lid F. The supply of the cylinder Eis induced through a hole, I, passing through the upper rim of thecylinder, which is closed at the top joint by a valve, 17, forming apart of the packingf, and moving within a chamber in the lid F. Thechamber extends into the bore of the cylinder 15, and thereby connectsthe hole I with it. The bottom G of the cylinder is provided, with asupply-opening, J, which is closed by a valve,j.' forming a part of thepacking g. The said induction-ports I and J open downward, to preventdust or,

other obstructions from settling therein and interfering with theoperation of the valves. The compressed air above the piston H enters adepression, K, on the upper joint of the cyl- An air-pump is fastened,by means of the lugs or air-ways D,'i

inder, whence itgoes into a .drilled channel, It, in the upper rim ofthe cylinder. which channel is closed by a valve, L, forming a part ofthe packing 1 between the cylinder and a lug. M, on the reservoir A. Thelug M "has a drilled hole, m, connecting a valvechamber, at, on itsjoint-surface, for the valve L, with the interior of the reservoir.

' The compressed air below the pistonHenters a depression, N, on thelower joint of the cylinder, whence it passes into a drilled channel, a,in the lower rim, which channel is closed by a valve, 0, forming part ofthe packing o between the cylinder and a lug, P, on the reservoir A. Thelug P has a drilled hole, 1), connecting a valve-chamber,p', on itsjointsurface, for the valve 0, with the interior of the reservoir A. Thelid F of the cylinder is provided with two upright guide-rods, Q, onwhich a cross-head, R, of the piston-rod h" slides up and down. A smallpitman or link, 1', connects the said cross-head with a bellcrank lever,S, which is fulcrumed by means of a pin, t, beween two lugs, T, on thereservoir A. The upper part of the bell-crank lever S is provided with asocket, S, into which a handle, U, for the operation of the machine isinserted. The bell-crank works in line with the piston, to avoidside-pressure and partial giving away to it of the piston. The uprightguides Q and cross-head B. are there for the same purpose, thus insuringa steady rectilinear movement of the piston-rod h in the stufling-box,and avoiding side wear in the same, which would cause leakage andinterfere with the effective operation of the machine. The horn orwhistle (.l is provided with a cock, 0, to cut off the air of thereservoir.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the air-chamber isthe only supporting-frame or standard for the pump, the operating-lever,and the alarm-whistle; and that the valves are so located as to closeupon the only two joints between the cylinder of the pump and the air,chamber or reservoir, and in ithis position they are held without anyseparate fastening. v

The other parts of the machine are all of the simplest construction, andarranged within the smallest compass, and thus the machine is adaptedfor use at the extremities of a vessel or light-house, where machinesofthe same class but of difi'erent construction could not beconveniently placed nor fastened.

By having an upright operating-lever extending mostly above thereservoir, the operator may take his position at any part of themachine, and always close to it, which is not possible for him withmachines of different construction.

The bottom plate of the machine not only serves as a support for all ofthe operating parts, but also has an extended annular rim, 2, withperforations 2" through. the same, whereby the machine may be screwed orbolted firmly to the deck of a vessel or other 10- cality where it is tobe used.

I am aware that an air chamber or reservoir, an alarm-whistle and a pumphave been combined in various ways. I am also aware that thealarm-whistle has been mounted on the air-reservoir, and that asingle-acting cylinder-pump has been bolted to the bottom oftheair-reservoir but in all the constructions heretofore adopted theair-chamber alone has not afforded a support for the whistle, pump,

and operating-lever, and hence auxiliary frames or supports of some sorthave been necessary for some of these parts, and the machine could notbe made as compact and simple in construction as I have shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- In the fog-horn, which has its alarm-whistle andpump supported by the air reservoir or chamber, the lever for operatingthe pump,

supported by a bearing upon said air reservoir or chamber, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

Witness my hand in the matter of my ap plication for a patent for animproved portable fog-horn, this 31st day of August, 1876.

JOHN BLAKE TARR.

